Day: November 3, 2012

Government withholding allowance, claims office of former President

The office of former President Mohamed Nasheed has accused the government of “negligence” in providing the legally-mandated monthly allowance to cover expenses of the former’s president’s office.

In a press release on Thursday, the former president’s office noted that article 8 of the Privileges and Protection for Former President’s Act (Dhivehi) states, “In the event that a former president wishes to conduct social work beneficial to the community, the state shall provide up to MVR175,000 (US$11,350) a month to arrange for an office, employees and other matters.”

The social work to be carried out by the former president’s office included “efforts to develop and strengthen democracy,” the press release explained.

Article 128 of the constitution states that a former president “serving his term of office lawfully without committing any offence, shall be entitled to the highest honour dignity, protection, financial privileges and other privileges entitled to a person who has served in the highest office of the land.”

The Privileges and Protection for former Presidents Act of 2009 was the first piece of legislation passed by the 17th parliament elected in May 2009.

The press release meanwhile revealed that the government first provided the state benefits due to the former president by law “four months after he left office” when a letter was sent to the Finance Ministry on April 30.

However, the financial benefits were discontinued four months later in August 2012.

Officials of various rank at the Finance Ministry as well as Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad were approached “repeatedly” regarding the benefits and all requested information was provided in a letter on August 27, 2012.

While Finance Minister Jihad had said that the ministry would send a letter seeking further information concerning the work of the former president’s office, the press release noted that the said letter had not been sent as of November.

On Jihad’s claim to local media that he was unaware of the location of the office and had sent a letter seeking clarification, the press release stated that “the minister should believe that a letter sent to an office whose address he did not know would not be delivered.”

“We note that this office has not been informed of the reasons for the sudden discontinuation of the benefits previously provided,” the former president’s office said, adding that a “verbal explanation” by ministry officials that the benefits were discontinued on orders from the Finance Committee of parliament was refuted by the committee.

While the amounts to be paid as benefits were specified in the law, the press release alleged that the Finance Ministry had not deposited the full amounts.

The law stipulates a monthly allowance of MVR 50,000 (US$3,243) for a president who has served one term.

The former president’s office expressed concern with the ministry’s failure to adhere to the law and called on the government to “respect the laws” and ensure “administrative fairness” by the state.

In October, local media gave conflicting statements regarding the reasons for the withholding of Nasheed’s office allowance.

Sun Online reported Jihad as saying that the issue was related to the unknown location of Nasheed’s office whereas Haveeru said that the suspension of privileges was related to a disagreement over whether former presidents were required to conduct charitable activities.

“In reality, the office should be involved in holding social activities. However, the concern of these members is that there is no social work to be seen by the (Nasheed’s) office,” Jihad was quoted by Haveeru.

“It has to be clarified. Hence the financial allowances have been halted for the time being. We still haven’t been provided with the information we sought in relation to the office,” Jihad told the paper.

Meanwhile, in March, the government had questioned Nasheed’s eligibility for state benefits on the grounds that he had not completed a full five-year term in office.

In June, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ahmed Hamza revealed that the state had spent MVR 1.3 million (US$84,300) on healthcare costs for former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his wife from 2010 to April 2012.

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Indian High Commission donates MVR 55,000 to three NGOs

The Indian High Commission has donated MVR 55,000 (US$3,567) to three local NGOs in recognition of their service to the community.

At a function on Thursday night at Iskandhar School to mark the India-Maldives friendship day, President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik presented commemorative plagues to the NGOs –Care Society, Maldives Autism Association and Haemophilia Society of Maldives.

While Care Society and the Autism Association were gifted MVR 25,000 each, the Haemophilia Society was given MVR 5,000.

Senior government officials, MPs and Indian expatriates living in Male’ attended the ceremony on Thursday, which also featured entertainment.

The event was held to mark the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

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President urges “vigilance against rebellious forces”

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik urged “greater vigilance against rebellious forces” in his address (Dhivehi) at a special ceremony last night to commemorate ‘Victory Day’ on November 3, 1988 – when an armed coup attempt was thwarted by Indian military intervention.

Following the unveiling of a monument at the military headquarters, President Waheed stressed “the importance of fostering deep love in our hearts for the sovereignty of our nation, and failing to do so may cost us our most prized possession – national identity and independence,” according to the President’s Office.

In his speech, President Waheed noted that on all occasions where Maldives’ independence was threatened by external forces, “it was due to the disloyalty of a fellow citizen who was unfaithful and insensitive to his own land and its people.”

The President further noted the “heroic courage and gallantry shown by our defence forces”, which was deserving of “utmost praise and honour.”

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CSC asks Pension Office for lump sum of MVR 2.5 million for eight retired civil servants

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has asked the Pension Office to release a lump sum of MVR 2.5 million as pension for eight civil servants who retired between 2008 and 2010, reports Sun Online.

Sun Online has obtained a letter from the CSC to the Pension Office requesting pension funds for the eight individuals from April 2011 onward.

The Pension Office has however contended that the individuals were not entitled to a government pension under the Public Finance Act.

The retired civil servants were Hussain Moosa, of Finivaage Kaashidhoo, retired on January 5, 2009 after 22 years, 11 months and 24 days (MVR90,000); former Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Adam Hassan, of Ocean Lodge, retired on 3 June 2008 after 24 years and 22 days (MVR320,000); Mohamed Zuhair, of M. Oceania, retired from the post of Chief Executive Officer on 7 August 2008 (MVR343,000); Abdullah Shakir, of Baikan’dige Aage, retired from the post of Assistant Director on 22 September 2008 (a monthly pension of MVR2,417 monthly in addition to a lump sum of MVR120,000); Ahmed Wajeeh, of Hazaarumaage, retired from the post of Executive Director in September 2008 (MVR120,000); Abdul Haadhee Ibrahim Didi of Aasikkage, M. Muli, retired after 27 years, 9 months and 19 days (MVR114,600);  Abdullah Faroog Hassan, of Primrose, Fuvahmulah, retired from the post of Commissioner on 7 August 2008 after  39 years, 11 months and 7 days (MVR1,000,000); and Adhnan Abdullah, of Kudhimaage Haa Alif Ihavandhoo, retired on 7 June 2010 after 34 years, 2 months and 14 days (MVR219,120).

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Saudi Arabia to fund mosque construction

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has said that an agreement was signed on Thursday for MVR 27 million (US$1.7 million) in free aid from Saudi Arabia for construction of mosques in the country.

According to a press release by the Islamic Ministry, the Maldives Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hussain Shihab and Saudi Ambassador to Maldives Abdul Azeez Jammaz signed the agreement at a ceremony that took place at the Saudi embassy in Sri Lanka.

The Islamic Ministry said a list of islands selected for mosque construction would be made public next week and that it hoped to begin the bidding process next month.

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Bank of Maldives to add 19 new ATMs

The Bank of Maldives Plc Ltd (BML) has announced plans to install 19 new ATMs across the country during the next few months.

In a press release on Thursday, BML said the ATMs were supplied by Diebold, a leading manufacturer, and were due to arrive this month.

“These state of the art machines come with world class security features and have the capability to launch new services to offer a superior customer experience,” reads the press release.

It added that the bank sought customer feedback for the project and has decided to install the new machines in existing ATM locations.

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Three injured in speedboat collision

Three passengers were injured in a collision at sea between two speedboats near the island of Fonadhoo in front of Male’.

According to police, a speedboat en route to Club Rannaalhi Resort from the airport collided with a Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) vessel travelling from Male’ to Hulhumale’ around 10:30pm on Thursday night.

Both vessels were seriously damaged in the accident, police noted. The injured passengers were taken to ADK hospital for treatment.

At the time of the collision, 11 people were on-board the ‘Adaaran’ speedboat and 23 on the MTCC speedboat.

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MNDF marks ‘Victory Day’ with special ceremony, unveiling of memorial monument

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) marked ‘Victory Day’ with a special ceremony, a parade, the unveiling of a new monument and a silent drill on Friday (November 2).

The special ceremony commemorated the events of November 3, 1988 – when an attempted coup by Sri Lankan mercenaries led by a group of Maldivians was foiled with Indian military assistance .

As part of the event, a memorial monument at the southwestern side of Bandaara Koshi, the main military headquarters, was unveiled by President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan.

The southwestern corner of the military headquarters was blown up during the attack in the early hours of November 3, 1988.

The ceremony meanwhile included the screening of an animated video showing the attack on the military headquarters, a seven-gun salute, 30 seconds of silence in memorial of the fallen, a performance by the military’s ‘Pipe’ band and the launching of a book about the 1988 coup.

Military officers performed a silent drill after the ceremony.

In his address at the ceremony, Chief of Defence Forces Major General Ahmed Shiyam said that although the Maldives might not come under military attack in modern times, the “effects of ideological attacks to poison the minds of our youth and destroy our nationhood are evident all around us.”

A parade meanwhile took place across the capital this morning following dawn prayers in a large congregation of military officers.

MNDF Captain Hussain Ali told newspaper Haveeru on Thursday that an event at the Republic Square including fireworks that had originally been planned for tonight was now postponed until after November 12 due to adverse weather.

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Police commence investigation after 11 year-old child gives birth

An 11 year-old girl who on Thursday prematurely gave birth to a child is said to be in a stable condition, as police today confirmed investigations were now under way into the case.

The girl, who cannot be identified due to her age, gave birth to the child two months prematurely. The child died early morning on Friday (November 2), after being taken to Feydhoo regional hospital in Seenu Atoll for further treatment, local media has reported.

The Maldives Police Service confirmed investigations into the matter were taking place, but said further details could not be disclosed due to the age of the child and the risk she could be identified and face possible recrimination.

A police spokesperson was unable to confirm the nature of the investigation at present.

However, local newspaper Haveeru, citing what it called reliable sources, reported that the girl had allegedly been a frequent victim of sexual assault before becoming pregnant.

“She came here with her mother complaining of constipation and stomach pain. Doctors had examined her and given an injection. But when she started to complain of severe pain, upon further examination doctors found that she was pregnant. The girl admitted that she got pregnant after someone had sexually molested her,” Haveeru quoted a local health centre official as saying.

The Health Ministry has meanwhile forwarded further requests for information on the case to the Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights, which is mandated to deal with the matter.

Gender Minister Dhiyana Saeed was not responding to calls from Minivan News at the time of press.

Abuse statistics

Almost one in seven children of secondary school age in the Maldives have been sexually abused at some time in their lives, according to an unpublished 2009 study on violence against minors.

Rates of sexual abuse for girls are almost twice as high than for boys at 20 percent – one in five girls have been sexually abused – while the figure for boys was 11 percent. Girls are particularly at risk in the capital Male’, the report found.

In recent years, local authorities and NGOs have released a number of findings trying to detail the extent of child abuse and wider sexual assaults within society.

The state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital’s (IGMH’s) Family Protection Unit reported in 2010 that the centre was notified of 42 cases of rape between 2005-2010. Most of these cases were found to involve minors.

According to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, 13 rape cases were reported last year alone, the majority of which most were gang rapes or assaults involving minors.

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